Engine manufacturers are calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain supply of lower ethanol content fuels.
Spot the difference - E10 at the pumps Image: yewenyi |
The appeal comes after the EPA's recent ruling to allow the supply of E15 fuel in the US with an ethanol content of 15% for newer model vehicles across the country. The manufacturers of engines for marine and other outdoor products are concerned about engine damage that could be caused by the new fuel and the dangers of misfuelling.
According to the manufacturers, E15 puts millions of engines at risk in boats, lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment through overheating and compromised performance as the engines are currently only designed to run on fuel with a maximum of 10% ethanol content (E10).
Companies such as Briggs & Stratton, who claim to have 70 million engines in use across the US, and Mercury Marine are amongst the organisations petitioning the EPA. Their concerns relate to misfuelling and continued supply of E10 fuels. As the ethanol additive receives a Federal tax credit, E15 will be cheaper than E10 and the engine makers are worried that consumers will naturally opt for the cheaper product without considering the implications of engine damage and will also encourage refiners to reduce or stop producing E10.
The manufacturers, along with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and 11 other trade bodies also fear that misfuelling could occur due to unclear labelling at fuel pumps, citing the change from leaded to unleaded fuel in the 1970s as an example.